Golf-ball.



Patented Apr. I, I902. E. KEMPSHAL-L.

GOLF BALL.

(Application filed Jan. 4, 1902.;

(No Model.)

Witnesses:

[22 wen-tor: Eleazerflfampshall m: NORRIS Farms :0. wmmummwasmnmou, a. c

lll'nrrnn Sterne PATENT Cri ter),

EIJEAZER KEMPSHALL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO TIIE KEMPSHALLMANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEIV JERSEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 696,890, dated April 1,1902.

Application filed January 4, 1902 Serial No. 88,410. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELEAZER KEMPSHALL, acitizen of the United States,residing in 130s ton, in the county of Suffolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inGolf-Balls, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to playing-balls; and its chief object is tostrengthen and improve the covers of balls which are subjected to severeusage, as in the game of golf.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of myimproved ball,partly broken away, so as to exhibit its construction. Fig. 2illustrates a stage in the process of covering the ball, and Fig. 3illustrates the relative arrangement of jointed layers used in formingthe cover.

In the several views similar parts are designated by similar charactersof reference.

Upon a core 20 of suitable material, such as gutta-percha or softrubber, I place hemispherical segments 21 and 22 of hard, wearresistingmaterial-such, for instance, as celluloid-and this inner shell I inclosewith an outer shell consisting of hemispherical segments 23 and 24.,placing the latter so that the seam A, between the inner segments,extends transversely and preferably at right angles to the edges B and Oof the outer segments. The ball thus formed or assembled I place betweenheating and forming dies 25 and 26, the edges 13 and C preferably beingparallel with the lips E and F of the dies. The latter I bring togetherforcibly, thereby closing the outer shell upon the inner shell andjoining the edges I5 and C of the former. The filling or core 20 isnearly the full size of the ball and is originally prepared somewhatoversize-that is, of a bulk too great for the capacity of the finishedshell; and one of the objects of compressing the shell upon the fillingis to place the latter in a state of normal compression, so as toincrease the efficiency of the ball, as setforth in my pendingapplication, Serial No. 7 6,814, filed September 27, 1901. An advantageof my present improvements is that the material of the filling isprevented by the inner shell D from squeezing out between the lips E andF of the dies. The heating of the dies renders the material of the shelllayers plastic and enables the edges at A, as well as those at B and C,to weld, and owing to the crossing of the Welds the danger of the ballbursting at a weld when subject to rough usage in play is avoided, sincethe body portion of one of the layers reinforces the weld portion of theother thereof, thereby making a practicably indestructible casing forthe core. Moreover, the weld itself is improved in character in eachlayer by reason of the contiguity of the material of the other layer,the heating and pressure having a tendency to compact the material ofboth layers into one concrete thick shell. The pressure to which theshell is subjected tends also to compact, toughen, and temper thecelluloid or other material, rendering it less liable to chip off andalso more springy, tenacious, and durable. It will also be understoodthat celluloid in the form of thin layers, which I preferably use, hasdesirable qualities that are not so well marked when the celluloid ismade up in thick layers, so that my laminated shell has the temper ofthin celluloid, while also having enough body to furnish the necessaryresistance to a blow. Either or both of the layers may, however, beincompletely cured or somewhat green, it being desirable that -thereshall be at least enough solvent present in the material to render thesame plastic and weldable when heat is applied. Thus it will be seenthat the ball at Fig. 1 comprises a solid core of gutta-percha, softrubher, or suitable materials in combination, compressed by a shellbuilt up of layers of celluloid, each layer consisting of segmentswelded at their edges, the welds crossing, and said layers being furtherwelded together or adhering facewise, thereby producing a shellpractically as strong as a seamless shell in the normal expansivetendency of the filling serving or aiding to maintain the true sphericalform of the shell and also aiding materially in restoring the ball toits true shape after a blow, thereby conducing to the flying powerthereof. Moreovergby having the core in a state of initial compressionless diston tion of the ball under a blow occurs before the limit ofcompression is reached, whereby less force is wasted in changing andrestoring the shape to the ball, so that nearly all of the force of theimplementis utilizedin speeding the ball.

It will be seen that one layer of the shell serves to reinforce thejoint of the otherlayer, and it will be understood that suchreinforcement notonly enables the shell to withstand the normalexpansive energy of the filling, but also prevents undue flexure andpractically eliminates the danger of bursting at the joint.

By the term compression used herein I refer to compressivetendency,which in practicing my invention is usually accompanied bycondensation of the compressed material. It is to be understood that incase condensation of the core occurs at the compressing operation it isdue to the presence of air-spaces or impurities in the material. It isnot essential in practicing my invention that the core be alwayscondensed in bulk, so long as when the ball is finished the core isgripped by the shell. This grip is made even more powerful by theshrinking of the celluloid, which continues for a long time after theball is made.

I usually form the shell of golf-balls with a pebbled or brambledsurface, as at G; but for other games the balls may be made with asmooth periphery.

As my improvements relate chiefly to an improvement in the shell,wherebyit is adapted particularly for the purposes specified, I haveillustrated the core 20 in the form of a solid sphere; but it may beotherwise formed and still be wholly or partly held under compression bythe improved shell. I prefer to employ gutta-percha for at least a largeportion of said core, although any other yielding backing may beemployed for the shell, reducing the tendency of the latter to chip andalso cooperating therewith to increase the efficiency of the ball. Theshell I make relatively thin, so that itmay possess a degree offlexibility, springiness, or temper not present in a solid or nearlysolid ball of the same material, thus preserving the wear-resistingquality of the ball,while making it lively and efficient. So long as theshell is made up of wear-resisting material which is harder than thebacking or filling it is not essential that said shell in all cases bemade of celluloid. More than two plies or layers may be used for theshell within the scope of my invention. \Vhile I prefer celluloid forreinforcing the joint or weld between segments, other material may beemployed within the scope of my invention, and while I prefer toreinforce one welded or jointed segmental shell by means of a likeshell, still a reinforcement may be made by means of a shellotherwiseformed and consisting of other substance.

In using the term celluloid I mean to include all components of thecelluloid or pyroxylin class.

The herein-described process is made the subject-matter of my pendingapplication, Serial No. 97,881, filed March 12, 1902.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In a playing-ball, a shell ofplastic material made up of layers, one of said layers being formed ofjointed spherical segments, and another of said layers reinforcing thejoint, and a yielding filling held under compression by said shell.

2. In a playing-ball, a shell formed largely or wholly of plasticmaterial and comprising a plurality of layers, one of said layers beingin the form of jointed or welded hemispherical segments, and another ofsaid layers reinforcing the weld, and a yielding filling held undercompression by said shell.

3. In a playing-ball, a shell formed largely or wholly of plasticmaterial and comprising two layers, each consisting of jointed sphericalsegments, the joint or seam in one layer running crosswise with thejoint or scam in the other layer, and a yielding filling held undercompression by said shell.

4. In a playing-ball, a shell comprising an inner and outer layer, eachconsisting of a plurality of welded segments, and each of said layersreinforcing the weld of the other thereof.

5. In a playing-ball, the combination with a core of a plastic shellcomprising at least one layer made up of jointed segments and reinforcedat the joint by another layer; said shell holding said core undercompression.

6. In a playing-ball, the combination of a yielding core and a celluloidshell holding said core under compression; said shell comprising innerand outer layers, each of said layers consisting of segments weldedtogether, and the weld in one of said layers running crosswise of theweld in the other thereof.

' 7. In a playing-ball, the combination with a yielding core, of a shellconsisting wholly or partly of celluloid and holding said core undercompression; said shell consisting of layers, at least one whereof is inthe form of segments welded together, and another of said layersreinforcing the weld; said layers being also compacted and weldedtogether facewise. I

8. A playing-ball comprising a core consisting wholly or largely ofgutta-percha, and a shell consisting wholly or largely of celluloid andmade up of outer and inner layers, each layer consisting ofhemispherical segments welded together, the welds running crosswise ofeach other; and said layers being solidified and welded togetherfacewise so as to form a concrete shell, which holds said core in astate of compression.

9. In a playing-ball, a shell made up of layers, at least one of saidlayers consisting of celluloid one of said layers being formed ofjointed spherical segments, and another of said layers ieinforoing thejoint; and a yieldthe other layer; and a yielding core held nn-l ingcore held under compression by said shell. den compression by saidshell.

10. Inaplayin -ball ashellcom risin two l w 1 7 y layers, at least 0116of said lZLYBIS COHSlZlDlDg EMLAZER IEMPSHALT" 5 of celluloid eachconsisting of jointed spherical segments, the joint or seem in one layerl running crosswise with the joint 01' seam in l Witnesses:

B. O. STICKNEY, JOHN O. SEIFERT.

